Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns has admitted that he has been living in "hell" for the last few years after being cleared of perjury.
The 45-year-old was acquitted of perjury and perverting the course of justice at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.
The former all-rounder was accused of lying under oath in a libel case in 2010 when he said that he had never cheated in a cricket match and never contemplated doing so.
The case was in relation to claims made by former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi, who had tweeted that Cairns was removed from the auction list of that year because of his "past record of match-fixing".
Cairns won the libel case and was awarded £90,000 in damages as part of a £1.4m settlement.
After being cleared of perjury following a nine-week trial, Cairns told reporters: "Other than being exhausted, I'm sincerely looking forward to getting home and seeing my family.
"It's been hell for the last five or so years. I think I've been through the mill and come out the other side. I'm just a very happy man.
"It's not a victory as such, a case like this, there's no winners. It's been hell for everyone involved."
Co-defendant Andrew Fitch-Holland was also cleared of perverting the course of justice.
Danielle Joynson
